The top reported proficiency rate is 63% in Science. The lowest is 50% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Excelsior Classical Academy
Excelsior Classical Academy is a charter school serving kindergarten through twelfth grade in Durham, North Carolina. It is a young institution that underwent a structural transformation in 2023-24 when it grew into a full K-12 school, graduated its first high school class in June 2024, and earned Cognia accreditation the following summer. For families considering enrollment, the key fact is that the school now offers a continuous pathway from early childhood through graduation without requiring a school change.
The school sits on North Roxboro Street in north Durham and draws about a thousand students across its thirteen grade levels. The enrollment distributes fairly evenly through the elementary and middle grades, with roughly ninety to ninety-seven students per grade kindergarten through eighth, then drops noticeably at the high school level, with roughly thirty-three to sixty-one students in grades nine through twelve. The student body is racially and ethnically mixed. White students make up a bit less than half the enrollment; Hispanic students and Black students each comprise roughly a quarter; students identifying as two or more races account for a smaller share; and Asian students and Pacific Islander students together represent a small percentage. Data on free-and-reduced-price lunch eligibility and English learner status were not available, so the economic diversity of the enrollment cannot be fully characterized from the information provided.
On the most recent state testing available, Excelsior reported proficiency rates across grades three through eight. In English language arts, just over half of tested students met proficiency. In mathematics, proficiency was about five percentage points lower. Science showed the strongest result, with a substantially higher proficiency rate, though the science test is administered to fewer grades and the assessment itself underwent a name and cut-score change, so trend comparison is not yet possible. Parents may want to look further into the school's academic trajectory and any comparison data the school itself publishes, particularly for the high school grades, where state testing data was not available.
The school's most distinctive feature is its dual-enrollment pathway with Durham Technical Community College, available to juniors and seniors. Students can earn college credit toward an associate degree in fields including arts, science, teacher preparation, engineering, nursing, business, or marketing while still in high school. The first graduating class already included students who completed associate degrees alongside their high school diplomas, demonstrating the partnership is active and not merely on paper. This pathway is a significant advantage for families seeking to lower the cost of higher education or accelerate progress toward a degree, and it reflects the school's positioning toward post-secondary readiness.
Durham itself is a city in sustained growth, anchored by Duke University and Duke Health, with a creative downtown core, historic walkable neighborhoods, and expanding suburban areas. The school's location in north Durham places it near the North Regional Library and civic anchors that serve that part of the city. Housing values in the 27704 zip code are broadly in line with North Carolina's state average and slightly below the national median, with rental rates rising modestly year over year. The region's major employers span healthcare, higher education, and a substantial biotech and technology sector tied to Research Triangle Park.
The school is still establishing itself at the high school level, and high school enrollments remain small. For families committed to a classical education model and interested in a pathway to dual college credit, Excelsior offers a distinctive option; for those seeking a longer track record of high school outcomes or a larger peer group at the secondary level, the school's youth and size are relevant factors. Neither enrollment through elementary and middle grades nor the dual-enrollment pathway is universal in public charter schools, so these specifics matter for fit.
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